3. Differentiating between the /v/ and /b/ pronunciations

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Why does it happen?

Spanish speakers may confuse the "v" and "b" sounds in English because these sounds are not distinguished in the same way in the Spanish language. In Spanish, both the "v" and "b" sounds are pronounced with the lips touching, producing a similar sound. As a result, Spanish speakers may have difficulty hearing the difference between the "v" and "b" sounds in English, which are pronounced differently with the lips and teeth.

Additionally, the "v" sound in English is produced with the lower lip and upper teeth, while the "b" sound is produced with both lips. In Spanish, the "b" sound is produced with both lips as well, so Spanish speakers may have difficulty articulating the "v" sound correctly in English. This can lead to confusion and mistakes in pronunciation when speaking English, as the "v" and "b" sounds are distinct and important for proper communication in the English language.

EXERCISES

1. In this exercise, you have to open the 2 links below, play the video and match the number and word from the video to the PDF pictures


2. In the next paragraph, you have to fill in with the words (minimal pairs) to the blank spaces.

vale  bail
void  boid
vine  bine
vase  base
vote  boat

A ________ is a small valley or depression in the ground. ________, on the other hand, refers to the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security or money. Moving on to homophones, a ________ is a container used for holding flowers or other decorative items, while ________ refers to the lowest or bottom part of something. The words bine and vine are often confused, but a ________ is a climbing plant, while a ________ is a stem that twines around a support. Finally, a ________ is a formal expression of choice or opinion, whereas ________ is a small ship mainly made out of wood, a ________ is an empty or vacant space, and ________ is a program that simulates the flocking of birds or another way New Yorkers call birds, Some people may misspell boid as void, which can lead to confusion or misunderstanding.

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